This Book Made Me Think of You

by Libby Page

The unforgettable new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Libby Page

Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart...

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…
The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

Praise for Libby

'Tender, thought-provoking and uplifting' Daily Mail

'Joyous . . . A testament to kindness and friendship' Sarah Winman

'This charming novel is full of heart' Lucy Diamond

'Libby Page is a literary burst of sunshine . . . Utterly delightful' Veronica Henry

'Feel-good fiction at its best' Daily Mirror

'A heart that shines from every page' AJ Pearce

'Moving and beautifully crafted' Mike Gayle

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Books About Books, Contemporary, Adult, Grief, Chick Lit

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Libby Page previously worked in marketing, moonlighting as a writer. She graduated from The London College of Fashion with a BA in Fashion Journalism before going on to work as a journalist at the Guardian. THE LIDO is her first novel. It was pre-empted within 24 hours of submission for six figures in the UK, pre-empted for six figures in the US, and will be published in 2018 by Orion UK and Simon & Schuster US, followed by eleven other territories around the world.

Libby has been a leading campaigner for fairer internships and has spoken on TV and in parliament in support of fair pay for interns. Libby has been writing from an early age and when she was 16 she wrote an illustrated book called Love Pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

After writing, her second passion is outdoor swimming. Libby lives in London where she enjoys finding new swimming spots and pockets of community within the city.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME❤❤😭😭!!!!!! I can't see through my tears right now😭😭!!!!!!!



｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ"When you lose someone who is your entire universe, it hits you- all chances you didn’t take, all the things you didn’t say. Because the truth is that you think you have forever, but you don’t. You never do.”｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ


🌷🎀🦋I'm scared, but I'm so ready for the emotional damage this book is about to cause me🦋🎀🌷 !!!!!!!

[❀ Tia ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW | COMING: 29TH JANUARY 2026

★ 4.5 ★

⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
~ Death (most prominently of a husband, and father)
~ Bereavement
~ Cancer
~ Grief

📚 Summary 📚
Five months ago, Tilly Nightingale lost two of her biggest loves: her husband Joe, and as a result, also her passion for reading. However, five months after Joe's death, deep in grief and with her birthday fast approaching, Tilly receives a call from the local bookseller Alfie Lane, explaining that there is a gift from her late husband waiting for her at his bookshop. The gift being twelve books carefully selected by Joe, one for each month of the year, designed to help Tilly navigate her new life without him, cope with the weight of her grief, support her in ever so gradually piecing herself back together again, and maybe even give her the strength to take a chance on love again.

💭 My Thoughts 💭
I thought this was a wonderfully sweet and emotional read, written in such a warm and tender way, perfectly fitted for the themes mentioned. I found myself tearing up before I was even 10% into the book! I particularly loved the flashbacks showing us glimpses of Tilly and Joe's life together. They made me want to hug my loved ones a little tighter.

The plot was a little bit predictable, but I think that there's something comforting about predictability in these types of books, almost as if it's like a bit of solace amongst the emotional themes and tear-jerking moments.

This book is written in third person perspective, which worked fine. However, I often find this can take a degree of emotional depth away from the characters. Therefore, as this book was so emotive, I did wonder whether it would've better suited being written in first person perspective as this may have potentially portrayed the depth of Tilly and Alfie's emotions more effectively.

The pacing felt a bit inconsistent; sometimes a slow burn and other times a bit too rushed. At several points, I really wanted things to slow down so I could really savour Tilly's shifting mental state and better appreciate her journey of healing. For example, I would've loved to have read more about Tilly's adventures around Paris with the "grief gang".

Sprinkled with numerous book recommendations throughout, I think that this is a great book for anyone who loves reading and uses books as a form of escapism. From the beautifully poetic descriptions of how much a book in the right hands can truly change someone's life, to the level of commitment it must've taken to collate so many appropriate book recommendations to scatter throughout the story, it is apparent that Libby Page is incredibly passionate about literature. This also meant that each characters' love of books also read very authentically.

💫 Overall 💫
I really enjoyed this book. It was emotional, heart-warming and brimming with hope amongst heartbreak. Libby Page handled the themes with such care and sensitivity, and gave all the characters their own little personalities and quirks, making them feel so real and well-rounded. Even with the inconsistent pacing, I found this book fantastic and would recommend it to anyone who likes their romances with a side of sobbing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Libby Page and Penguin General UK | Viking for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars


This Book Made Me Think About You was emotional, sweet, and so very hopeful. It had some heavy topics, mainly centered around grief, but it was represented beautifully. It was my first book by Libby Page, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Tilly’s husband passed away in the summer, and it is now the first of the year. She gets a call from her local bookshop that she has a package there. It’s a book. From her husband. It is, in fact, 12 books. One, she gets on the first of each month from Joe. A gift she never saw coming.

Alfie is the bookseller and is dealing with grief of his own after losing his dad and inheriting his bookstore. Though his father has been gone longer than Tilly’s dad, it’s still challenging for him to navigate all his feelings. I loved both Alfie and Tilly and rooted for them to be together. Though the focus of this book is not on romance, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This is one of those books that brought a few tears, but ultimately left me with the biggest smile on my face. I hurt for these characters, but also cheered for them. This book was a win for me!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5- Rounding up to 4.

Sweet story but definitely a bit too cutsie and cliche for me (our FMC has red hair, of course she does!). If you can suspend reality, I think you'll enjoy it. I do think the plot just wasn't enough which feels wild to say since it was about a widow getting books from her dead husband! --but the writing was lacking to keep tension and interest chapter to chapter. This will be a sweet story to read cuddled under a blanket.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then, you come across a book that just grabs you. You know, those stories that take root and plant themselves right into your very core, those stories that you still think about long after they have ended. Those are the ones that change you. Those are the ones that matter.

This is one of those stories. A story that moved me. Made me think. Made me feel, oh how this story pulled at all my emotions. I can't even tell you how many times I cried, both sad tears and happy tears. It really was just that good.

You will adore Tilly, you will adore Alfie, you will love Joe, and Blue, and Prudence, and Harper. There isn't a character in this story that doesn't matter, that doesn't stand out in some way or another.

This is a must read, I just can't say enough good things about it. Try it. You won't regret it.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 6.

Ohhhh….this is such a sweet, heartwarming read.

You will love Tilly and look forward to the books chosen for her and the adventures she goes on because of the books.

If you need an uplifting book with wonderful characters, please read this book.

You won’t want it to end and get book recommendations galore.

The cover is as adorable as the book.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book. Full of inspiration, hope and showcasing the profound impact books can have on the reader.

Tilly is only just surviving after the loss of fiancée Joe. He has left her a collection of books each to be collected once a month after he has passed away. Tilly struggles to open the first book, but as each month passes she finds herself looking forward to finding out what lies behind the beautifully wrapped parcels. The books not only remind her of the thoughtfulness of Joe, but encourage her to make changes to her life, pushing herself out of her comfort zone and helping her navigate her grief.

This book highlights how books can expand our horizons, taking us travelling, building new relationships and friendships along the way.

This book is full of wonderful characters and is both thought provoking and inspiring. Overall a book I didn’t want to end .

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley

This book was just beautiful. A perfect rom com written for book lovers. The obvious comparison is that this book is like a modern P.S, I love you but written for bibliophiles.

I mean this as a compliment but this book was exactly what I thought it would be, in the same way that re-watching Love Actually every Christmas is comforting and nostalgic.

I really appreciated the references to famous book shops and book related places, as well as the monthly book recommendations. The recommendations at the beginning of each month were so good and I actually ended up adding a few to my TBR.

This book isn’t doing anything ground breaking but you can tell that the author (and therefore the characters) just really loves all kinds of books, from modern romance bestsellers to the classics. A warm hug of a book!

[Shannon Bavister · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts: TBMMTOY is genuinely one of the most incredible and beautiful reads I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing and I am grateful for the opportunity to have had an advance reader copy.

I wrote pages of notes for this novel as I was reading through, as there was just so much I loved and enjoyed - so I will try to narrow and simplify my thoughts below:

• my favourite quotes from the novel can be seen on slide 3 - I will, from this moment, always be referred to as a “library mouse”

• The recommendations throughout of books to read either by Book Lane or from Joe to Tilly - I looked up every book that was mentioned and so many were added to my TBR!

• Whilst there is some predictability to the plot, the journey the characters go through to get there is absolutely incredible. There are moments of intensity, emotional depth, resilience and vulnerability. There are tears and laughter which as a reader you feel emotionally in tune with - have tissues at the ready as there were so many heart wrenching moments.

• Every character is so loveable - from the Paris Grief group, Tilly’s sister Harper, Prudence and Blue, and even stray cat Georgette - you will become immersed in the world that Libby creates and feel like these characters are friends and family to you.

An easy 5✨ read!! ❤️

[Amy-louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
Great read, lovely relaxed book

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was promising. Young, sad, widow gets a call from a local bookshop that she has a book waiting. She didn't order any books, but apparently her late husband (not a reader!) purchased one book a month for his wife to read after he died. Sweet! A great romance book plot!

BUT this book was pretty dreadful. It was chock-full of every rom-com cliche, but the spin is that the MC is not doing ALL THE THINGS with her husband, because he's DEAD. Which is, you know, horrible. But this privileged, mourning, QUIRKY gal does ALL THE THINGS, and then finds what she needed all along, right there at home. GAH.

ALL THE THINGS include: honeymoon in Bali (with her sister), including drunken karaoke; three weeks in Paris where she meets other grieving people and becomes instant BFFs with all of them; "wild camping" in Scotland with hilariously awful results; running a marathon (excuse me, *half* marathon), again with sis.

She's QUIRKY because she has red hair! She wears a tweed coat with big mismatched buttons! And a rainbow scarf and orange bobble hat! A floaty dress with a denim jacket!

[LibraryLaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely, heartwarming story about the power of books was the perfect palate cleanser to read between my recent diet of suspense novels. I may have shed a few tears, but I enjoyed every word of it.

*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what an absolutely beautiful book. I’d started reading this and was reading as and when but Christmas Day I sat and read the second half of the book and I just couldn’t stop reading.

This is my first book I’ve read by Libby Page and I’m SO eager to read more, it’s definitely up there with my all time favourite reads. I adored everything about it, the storyline was sad but incredibly beautiful, I was fully obsessed with the monthly book gifting, I feel like I went on such a journey with the main character Tilly, navigating her grief and slowly progressing into an adventure of discovering who she is and stepping out of her comfort zone.

The focus on grief is done so brilliantly and there is never a right or wrong way to grieve and everyone goes through this differently - I liked how at the end of the book there was some book recommendations on grief along with lots of other book recommendations throughout the book, some of these are books I’ve read and loved myself. I feel like it’s definitely the kind of book for any book lover.

The book is filled with likeable characters, Alfie was my favourite, his love of books and owning a book shop, he’s incredibly kind and caring and I feel like he was perfect in being that addition to helping Tilly with her journey.

I cried, I smiled lots and I really felt like it was the book I never knew I needed, it will definitely stay with me for a long time. This is going to be a very successful book and I hope everyone who reads it, loves it as much as I did!

✨ some of my fave quotes below 👇🏻

‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.’

‘𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?' 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬. '𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞’

‘𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮’

✨

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I finished this year was This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. It has such a gorgeous first line and one I whole-heartedly agree with: The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever.

I just adored this book and the premise of Tilly receiving a book each month chosen by her late husband, Joe, was so moving. There is a lot about grief in this book and how people deal with it in different ways. Yet, the book is not at all maudlin. I particularly liked what one of the characters said about grief: ” my grief is a gift. He gave it to me. It is our memories, Our love.” What a beautiful way to think about grief.

Joe is such a significant presence in the book even though he has died and I enjoyed finding out about their relationship through his letters and her memories. I so enjoyed discovering what book had been chosen each month and why, and seeing how Tilly responded to each challenge Joe set her. Some inspired her, some took her out of her comfort zone, some made her laugh and others made her cry.

The beautiful, heartfelt letters Joe included with each book brought a lump to my throat, never mind Tilly’s. I soon was eager to find out what book would be next. As the Love Lane bookseller Alfie says ‘helping people find the books they need is my job’. This book could increase your own reading pile, not just because of the books Joe chose but also because of Love Lane’s recommended reads each month.

I think This Book Made Me Think of You is Libby Page’s best novel yet, a love letter to books and bookshops. Even though it was the first book I finished this year, I can easily see this being among my top reads for 2026.

[katie ⋅♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Made Me Think of You is a tender, hopeful story that beautifully explores grief, healing, and the small ways love lingers. Tilly’s journey, guided by the twelve books her late husband chose for her, is emotional from the very first chapters, and the flashbacks to her life with Joe add a heartfelt depth that’s hard not to tear up over. The book’s predictability actually works in its favor, offering comfort and warmth in the midst of heavier themes.

I found myself tearing up within the first 15% of this book. kind of gave me ps i love you vibes.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher!

[A Dreaming Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an eARC.

This book was so good. I cried every chapter but it was so well written. Each letter from Joe sent me into a new burst of tears. It was really beautiful how each book had a special connection to their life together. Tilly and Alfie's romance didn't exactly click for me but I suppose they do make a cute couple. I personally felt that the romance was just added to make it a cozy book. It also helps the narrative of her moving on. It was cozy and sad all at once. Ots

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely read and Libby Page back to her best I feel with this one which I enjoyed as much as her first- The Lido. I was captivated from the first chapter when I realised the book starts on the main character’s - Tilly’s- birthday which is also my own! I also read it the same week, the first week of January.

A subject matter which could be desperately sad was somehow made hopeful & positive by the author & it turned into a real hug of a book. The book recommendations at the start of each chapter are perfectly done too & I’ve made a note of many. A really sweet read.

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow!
Everyone needs to read this book!💜💜💜

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautifully written book & lovely story.
I received an advance copy of this book from BookBrowse in exchange for an honest review.

I won't give too much info about the actual story itself but I loved this book.
You know in the very early pages that Tilly is dealing with sadness & why she is.
The unique way the story unfolds & the gentle & lovely way of telling it just hit the spot for me, took me away from real life issues in our world.
There's books, a bookstore, challenges, inspiration, laughs & some tears.

Loved it!

[book_thimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word! What a wonderful book, easily one of my favourite books of 2025. I was delighted to receive the ARC of this from the publisher.
Tilly Nightingale receives an unexpected call from her local bookshop on her birthday, her husband has organised a gift, what makes this so unexpected is that Joe died 6 months ago. Before he passed away, Joe arranged for Tilly to receive a book a month for a year, to help her through the first full year without him, what follows is a series of adventures, discoveries and new friendships.
This book was a joy to read, it made me laugh and cry, it made me think about the time we have and how precious it is. Even though I read this book on my kindle, I will definitely be buying a physical copy on publication day for myself and for my closest friends.
I loved the book recommendations at the start of each chapter and will be adding some of those to man TBR pile as well. The characters were all brilliant, even the cat named after Georgette Heyer!
Overall, a super book that I will be recommending again and again!

[Molly Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
3.5⭐️ rounded up.

Tilly is trying to manage everyday life following the death of her husband when she receives a call from her local book shop. This is where her year of books begins, where grief is woven through every adventure and every conversation.

I enjoyed how the author created characters with depth and intelligence. Not even the side characters felt rushed or flat. This made it easy to feel invested in their stories and the decisions they made.

The way the book discusses grief feels very accurate, with every character experiencing something different. The only area this did fall short for me was in how it was brought up in every conversation between every character. I enjoyed the idea of not having to hide their emotions, but it became slightly forced when a group chat was named ‘The Paris Grief Gang’.

This feeling continued in the way books were discussed. I liked how Tilly was a book lover, along with many of the other characters, it just began to border on cheesy how books were referenced in most conversations as well.

The way the author describes Tilly’s adventures and her emotions felt very believable, and the progress she made throughout the year felt authentic. The way the book is separated into the months of the year worked very well and meant the pacing was perfect.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this as a somewhat light, romance read, with great insights into the impacts of grief. It does have a bit of cheese, but that’s not always a bad thing and is sometimes to be expected!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delightful and Captivating Story of Hope


SUMMARY
When Tilly Nightingale receives a call about a birthday gift from her husband at her local bookshop, it's a shock. Joe had died five months ago, and she hadn’t read for pleasure ever since he got sick. Alfie, the bookshop owner, explains the gift—one book each month with a handwritten letter from Joe for the next twelve months. Though hesitant, Tilly begins reading Joe’s letters, and she immerses herself in the books he chose. She starts to enjoy the monthly visits to the bookshop and her conversations with Alfie and the bookstore staff, which offer comfort and motivate her to travel, take risks, and have adventures.

REVIEW
This is one of those fabulous books I can’t stop talking about. It was a delight watching Tilly’s character evolve from a grieving widow to a strong, confident, and independent woman. I absolutely adored the posthumous gift of books from her husband. I love the thought and care that went into selecting each book. And the letters…priceless.

The writing is captivating. Both Tilly and Alfie’s characters draw you into the story. You can’t help but anticipate what each month’s book and letter will bring to Tilly’s life. The struggling bookshop and the colorful bookstore employees also play a significant role in the story development.

My favorite part is Tilly’s solo trip to Paris and the wonderful group of diverse friends she meets there—in a bookstore, no less.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Publisher Berkley
Published February 3, 2026
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
This is a beautiful story about the powerful gift of books. In this story, a woman receives the gift of a book a month to ease her through grief. I looked forward to each new chapter and what the next book would be and how Tilly, the main female character, would react to the book. This book has loving, caring, kind characters and certainly highlights the power of books and independent book stores.

[Helen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Made Me Think of You is quite possibly one of the most thoughtful and endearing books I’ve read. A beautiful story of hope, healing and learning to live again. It made me smile throughout and at times gave me a lump in the throat!

Tilly is shocked to receive a call from her local bookshop informing her she has a gift to collect from her deceased husband. Before Joe died, he had arranged ‘A Year of Books’ for Tilly. In the midst of her grief, these twelve carefully chosen books connect Tilly to Joe and remind her that she is strong and brave. These books become the start of new adventures and the beginning of new chapters in Tilly’s life. Tilly discovers that whilst life is fragile, it is also a gift - to be lived well and filled with books, adventures and love.

Despite Joe being deceased, I felt like I knew him so well through Tilly’s memories. He surely must be the sort of husband every book-loving woman wants! He isn’t a reader himself but he totally understands that’s just who Tilly is. I adored Joe’s ‘book fort’ gesture and his marriage proposal couldn’t have been more perfect (I actually read the proposal aloud to my husband and son because it’s so unique and flawless!).

This Book Made Me Think of You is a magnificent tribute to books, bookshops and booksellers. After finishing this story, there can be no doubts about the impact books can have on a person and the safe haven found within bookshops.

Thank you Penguin UK for gifting me an advance digital copy of this book.

[Jo Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been in a reading slump the last few weeks and this book rescued me! 'This Book Made Me Think Of You' is comforting, hopeful and joyful.

I loved the story of Tilly and Joe.

The book recommendations throughout were glorious.

This is the book I will be buying for friends as soon as it is out.

Utterly delightful!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first ARC from NetGalley! I was over the moon when this came through as Libby Page is an auto-buy author for me, and I LOVED this one - it had to be one of my faves from her 🩵 It really was a big warm hug in a book that included some difficult topics around grief and losing a loved one - make sure you check trigger warnings if you need.

The concept of the story was what I loved - following Tilly who receives a book a month from her husband who passed away that previous year 🫶🏻 This book is full of hope, inspiration and heart as Tilly navigates through life and finds herself again. I loved the adventures and the meaning that each book showed. It really highlighted the impact reading books can have someone especially when you are going through a difficult time of life! As always, friendship was at the heart of a Libby Page book, and I loved how this was explored through so many different people that Tilly has in her life especially with Alfie who owns the bookshop! At times I felt it was predictable, but others it surprised me which I enjoyed as well!

Also loved all the book recommendations and nods to London book shops - there was so much I could say about this book 😍 I highlighted quotes and cannot wait to get a physical copy when it is released to read again! I would highly recommend this book and could not put it down ♥️

[Sylvia LaCagnin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this heartwarming book and rate it 4.5*. Themes include grief, lost dreams, getting out of your comfort zone, trying new things, love of friends and family, and being open to a new love and making new memories. The protagonist, Tillie, receives the gift of a book each month for a year, from her husband, Joe, who died 5 months prior. His letter in each book offers love and encouragement for her to try new things and move forward with her life. She bravely attempts the challenges, some with difficulty that made me laugh or shed a tear.

The likable characters were well-developed and I felt like I knew them well. I loved Book Lane's monthly book recommendations and headings such as "Books to read when you don't feel like reading." I recommend this book to all book lovers who enjoy uplifting books about family drama and facing difficult life choices.

Thank you to Bookbrowse and Net Galley for my ARC

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warning: death, cancer, grief and loss

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve just finished this book and in only just over two days as it was so lovely and easy to read but I also really didn’t want it to end! It’s honestly such a beautiful book and I think it’ll stay with me for a long time and especially the very likeable characters (main ones: Tilly, her sister Harper, Alfie and some of the additional characters you come to love too). The central themes, I would say, are: love, feeling lost and unfulfilled, grief, hope, adventure and exploration. I felt there were similarities to Ps. i Love You but with a nod to books and travel, so it was right up my street.

The book opens with our lovely and very likeable main character, Tilly, receiving a phone call from her local bookshop in Primrose Hill, London to collect a gift left to her from her husband who died a few months ago from a form of cancer. Tilly is confused but goes there and it turns out Joe, her husband who died, has put together a year of books for Tilly and she has to come to the bookshop each month to collect a book.

I loved how much Tilly’s - as well as the author’s - love of books shone through and really drew you in, and how each month had a range of eclectic book recommendations included relating to the theme for that particular month. This led to Joe guiding Tilly to become braver, more courageous, adventurous and hopeful in the year following his death.

It was really clever how travel and books were interwoven showing the comfort of books and how they can really touch and impact our lives - through escapism, adventure, love, hope and friendships.

I mentioned some of the themes I felt were in the book were: love, feeling lost and unfulfilled, grief, hope, adventure and exploration. I would say the theme of love goes beyond the obvious love story and love lost to also relate to love in terms of friendships, family, unrequited love, a love of your city and travel and, of course, a love of books. In terms of grief and loss, I would say this relates to a feeling of being lost, unfulfilled job and career wise, relationship wise, Tilly grieving for Joe and Alfie his Dad, and potentially the bookshop. I also loved the friendship of the Parisian book group/Grief Group and what they brought to the story.

This theme of grief perhaps resonated more with me as my Dad died last year and some close relatives a few months ago, and I did cry a lot reading some of the book but I also felt inspired end hopeful too, like Tilly, and I felt the book was beautifully written and even included some book recommendations on grief which was a nice touch.

I read this book on Kindle but when it’s released in paperback I will likely buy it for myself and others as I enjoyer it so much.

Highly recommend!

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently I’m starting 2026 with books that make me bawl like a baby! I knew upon reading this book’s premise that I was going to enjoy it. One of my favorite romcom movies is “P.S. I Love You”, and this sounded similar, almost like a bookish version inspired by the same concept the movie follows. This is my first Libby Page book, but it definitely won’t be my last.

This Book Made Me Think of You is a tender, reflective read that is deeply rooted in the love we leave behind once we’re gone. At its core, it’s a love letter to grief, to books, and to the people who shape us even after they’re gone. The premise is simple: 12 books, 12 stories, 12 carefully-chosen gifts to be given to Tilly, all from the partner she lost 5 months ago. The idea is that with these 12 books, given to her monthly, they will help Tilly navigate her first year without Joe. They’ll be her companion, her safe haven, her way of relieving the never-ending experience of grieving the person you love.

Grief has a way of stealing the joy and comfort from things we once loved, so watching Tilly slowly reconnect with reading, the people in her life, and the world around her, the things that exist outside the bubble of sorrow and grief was a beautiful thing to experience. Page captures Tilly’s initial numbness and her slowly coming back to life beautifully. The thing I loved the most, though, was Page’s ability to convey that yes, these books become comforting to Tilly, but more than anything, they become permission. It’s Joe’s way of telling Tilly she is allowed to feel again. They act as a sort of permission to feel, to travel, to dream, to open herself up to the world and people and connection. It’s Joe’s way of telling her it’s okay, and she doesn’t have to live in the deep throes of grief forever.

The bookshop’s atmosphere and Alfie adds the perfect layer of coziness and warmth to the story. Alfie’s presence makes the story feel a bit more grounded, and I appreciated that Alfie and Tilly’s connection never felt forced. Their conversations and connection felt gentle and earned.

All of that being said, there were a few moments that felt a bit too predictable, and at times, I wished the book lingered longer in the messier, heavier parts of grief rather than just smoothing them over and moving on. Grief is messy, and some of the more emotional moments resolved a little too neatly, especially given how raw grief and loss is in real life. Despite the few things I would’ve changed, this book’s overall tone and story is sincere and full of heart.

This book will be perfect for readers who love tender stories, books about bookish things, the idea that books will always arrive in our lives exactly when we need them.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was a gorgeously joyful book whilst also being at times quite heartbreaking.

It tells the story of Tilly whose husband recently passed away from Cancer. Before he died, he’d arranged a gift of a year of books to Tilly. There were obvious comparisons to P.S. I love you, however, it was beautifully done in how the books each month were perfect for helping Tilly to come to terms with her grief and make plans for her future. We also saw snippets of her life with Joe and were really able to get a sense of his character throughout.

We also meet Alfie, the bookshop owner who is the steward of Tilly’s ‘year of books’ and see the challenges he faces by his own experiences of grief.

I really enjoyed also seeing the impact of grief on the wider circle, such as friends and extended family, who may not always say or do the right thing, but continue to show up. I also meeting enjoyed the grief group that Tilly formed and other friendships that developed throughout the book.

In addition to this, Page provides so many book recommendations throughout. This really was a love-letter to the power of reading and the joy books can bring. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I’ll definitely be reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.